Football is BACK in the mixer today and I am very excited because our yet to be announced defensive midfielder is about to face a seriously stern test against the sometimes irrepressible France. He had this to say on his ascension.
“It all happened very fast, a few years ago I was playing in the fifth division of Wanderers and now I’m 22 years old at a World Cup representing my people and my family.”
What. A. Game.
Then in the afternoon, we’ll get to see the most intelligent striker on Twitter, Kevin De Fraud and Eden Hazfraud face off against the ramen haired whinger from PSG and his boring crowd of non-Samba melts.
What a day.
This World Cup has been a lot of fun, but I’m glad we’re finally landing in a place that feels like some quality football is about to happen. Not quite sure England vs Sweden is going to have the same appeal, it’ll be a bit like watching Burnley take on Everton, but who cares, I’m only there for the memes a the GOD BLESS GARETH SOUTHGATE after.
It’s interesting thinking about this World Cup so far, like, be honest, who are the star players who’ve ratcheted up their value 7x? There aren’t many, are there? Pavard from Stuttgart looks like he might land a good move after hitting the purest of strikes last week. Golovin has done his value no harm, looking an excellent player. Outside those guys, I’m struggling to find hidden gems. Have we simply become to amazing at scouting for a real surprise to land on anyone these days?
I don’t really have many Arsenal updates. Kelechi Nwakali, the Nigerian U20 captain, is close to moving to Porto for a season. That’s a very exciting move, hopefully, he’ll land some game time over there.
Jack Wilshere is close to making a move to West Ham, kind of predictable, I think I said as much a few months back. It’ll be an easy move. The club has low expectations, he’s close to his family, he’ll probably get a lovely salary and the faithful over there will love him. Good luck to him.
Gelson Martins will apparently move to Atleti. I mean, he looked exciting in those videos, but he also gave me severe Gervinho flashbacks. Not a lot of end product there.
Marca reckons Banega is going to reject Arsenal. Gut feel tells me we were never in for him. He’s a 29-year-old who took a pay cut to go to Sevilla for his mate, you could see right through all that nonsense. He just wanted a new deal. N’zonzi is now supposedly trying to push for a move out of the club, but again, do we need another 29-year-old look for an epic payday? I’m not so sure.
It’s very amusing to read around people meme-ing the new regime that has come in. People gearing up for the new season, semi-hoping that the horse they aggressively backed for 11 years was actually still a brilliant manager held back by kryptonic like forces that came with the stadium move. The wounds of the #WengerOut war will never heal, it’ll be interesting to see how the positioning works out next year. #CantWeJustBeHappy
That said, I do find the new trend for shite observations packaged up as deep insider insight quite amusing. Usually comes from the type of people who put ‘UEFA B LICENSE’ in their bio accompanied by a Sun Tzu quote about counter-attacking.
‘The lack of sharp bone structure inhibits aerodynamics in the final third, but more importantly, it manifests in a lack of confidence in front of goal. A man who cannot score off the pitch is doomed on it.’
But be honest, did you ever see Wenger raise his finger with such authority?
Right, enough rambling from me.
See you in the comments, jump on our damn podcasts.
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lol Fernandinho just destroyed by Hazard now.
Lukaku not a clue what he wanted to do there.
Hazard having some game, Lukaku is a donkey
Should be very loud alarm bells for Brazil here.
Belgium finding plenty of pace with their counters.
Good Neymar is ready to come on…they missed him ^^
Interesting if there will be someone to lead Brazil in this big game after they put themselves behind. Time to see if Neymar has the bottle. Or will it be Coutinho? Or anyone at all.
Once that left his boot. Game over!
Lukaku did very well there in fairness.
Great finish
lol Brazil not listening to the alarm bells
Goal!!!!
KdB my man. GG Brazil. Fernandinho fked them up so badly.
Happy that Brazil are exposed for what they are an average overrated side. France the same but they have been lucky.
Lukaku doing as he pleases rampaging through the middle.
Casemiro badly missed.
We won’t be seeing any diving by Neymar.
Lukaku passed through Fernandinho like there was no one in there. What a tragic performance by the Man City man. KdB with unbelievable finish.
Not over yet but I’m sticking with Belgium for this World Cup.
I know they will win it because I’ve called it before the tournament without putting any money on it!
Great finish though – Brazil aren’t sure what to do about Kevin at the minute.
Could be four European teams in the semis
Neither goal was really his fault but even apart from all that I’ve seen nothing of Alisson during the tournament so far to warrant the price tag being mooted for his services.
Brazil in trouble. Who knew playing DeBruyne further up instead of deeper would be actually beneficial. Roberto finally getting something right
What a clean finish from De Bruyne though.
Quality.
Brazil may get a 6-1 pasting today.
Belgium has the game on cruise control with counters
Pressure building now from Brazil
Martinez such a donkey manager. It was obvious that KdB will be a different player once he moves in to ACM. Lucker dawg that they even reached this phase with his stupidity. Witsel, KdB in a midfield pair, you’ve got to be kidding me.
Firminho should be starting ahead of Jesus
Tbh Brazil have been unlucky. Had several very good chances so far but none of them went in. On another day could have been 2:0 for them and not against them.
DeBruyne on the counter is so dangerous. They can’t handle him. Can see Brazil get a couple goals still but DeBruyne is capable of picking them off
Really Belgium have two potent offensive players in Hazard and KDB. Either of them can wreck a team, talk-less of both in tandem
Hazard on fire
Belgium will cause Brazil as many problems here on in offensively as the latter will.
Not unbelievable to think that Brazil could go down heavily here akin to against Germany last World Cup.
Brazil have no option but to fly at Belgium and they can do real damage on those counters.
OMG what is Fernandinho doing?! Holy balls…
Brazil need a goal this half but where’s it going io come from?
Neymar has been neutralized for the most part by Fellaini, he needs to step it up.
Belgium front three all playing well – even Lukaku is making a right nuisance of himself out wide.
Set up perfectly for Belgium now as long as they get to half time without any brain farts.
Looking like an England-Belgium final
Brazil are becoming predictable. Everything is going down the left with Neymar and Marcelo
Casemiro is so much better than Fernandinho, no disrespect to the city player.
Belgium playing nice football, they would murder England
England wont have a better chance that 2016.
Play Dembele and Belzium reach another level.
L’Equipe | #AFC are in talks to sign Djibril #Sidibe from #Monaco
Don’t we already have two rb’s at the club?
Belgium – England final is good for Arsenal
Half the premierleague is in there
They come back tired, broken or without motivation (the winners)
Ornstein knows nothing now
Brazil do not seem to know how to break down Belgium, short of Neymar dribbling through the penalty box and drawing a penalty.
They look clueless.
Biggest reason why RM have won the UCL 3 times in a row is their midfield. Each of Modric, Kroos and Casemiro is the best in the world in his position.
Two problems for Brazil.
One before kick off no Casemiro.
Then from kick-off they want to go to war with Belgium. One of the pluses of this Brazilian side is the patience they have shown in matches. No patience tonight. They flew at Belgium from the first whistle. Straight in the hands of the tin-tins.
Now Brazil have a heap of problems added onto the original two.
WTF
Brazil out of ideas…. not pressing, playing slow and lethargic
Shell shocked
I hope coach kicks them up the arse at half and they come out guns blazing
If only Neymar would turn up for these big games…I kid…
Belgium have been great, Lukaku far from a donkey
Movement. no one is making runs for Brazil… just give to Neymar and watch
Wrong!!!!!
Tite is getting punished for his stupidity to play Jesus and not Firmino.
Let’s hope the nzonzi rumours are true….. EXACTLY what we have needed in centre midfield for years.
“If only Neymar would turn up for these big games…I kid…”
Christ, just imagine Bamford this evening!
Brazil have too many players taking too many touches. Right now Belgium is ok sitting deep and breaking with pace. Its like they are playing with 7 defenders and 3 attackers.
Very impressed with Belgium. Brazil have underestimated them.
Jesus being far too greedy on the ball, agree Firmino a better choice
Belgium are not allowing Marcelo any room, even Lukaku is pushing out wide to cut down his space.
Brazil look out of ideas
@Barking he’ll be thinking he’s won his imaginary bet already
If what L’Equipe is saying is true then what does that mean for Bellerin?
Is Emery thinking of him as an attacker, or has he seen enough of him to think he doesn’t want him in the team? Is it a financial decision in that the club think they can get Sidibe for a reasonable price and sell Bellerin to Barcelona for massive money?
“Its like they are playing with 7 defenders and 3 attackers.”
Pretty much sums it up – the nice thing for them is that their front three is quite possibly the best in world football.
No need for midfield support the way they are playing.
Looking like an England-Belgium final
This is why people like it when England lose. They literally have not convinced in the slightest but are already in the final beating Sweden and Croatia
CA
A simple trade for Bellend would to
I would even take a loss on shit pubteam primadonna
Jesus is a tap in merchant, another overrated footballer.
@Denisk
Yeah, you never know we might see him pop back in if Brazil crash out……
that
Goonah
Because of Bellerin’s age and reputation we would probably look to get close to £40 Million for him even though he’s been a disappointment for a while, maybe more.
That’s what I’m wondering, is this a choice that means we get Sidibe for a a low fee relatively speaking, sell Bellerin for a high one and bring N’Zonzi in as well in that switch?
I would take it. I think Bellerin has potential, but I would take that.
Willian out, Firmino in. What is Tite’s obsession with Gabriel? Guy has done zilch in this WC.
Let’s hope the nzonzi rumours are true….. EXACTLY what we have needed in centre midfield for years.
Surprised that you’d say that Pierre cause I’d honestly be shocked if Xhaka retains his starting position if we bring in Nzonzi and Torreira. I don’t see us playing a midfield three because of the amount of attackers we have so I’d expect him to drop out. Maybe you actually care more about the actual team than I thought
CA
What potential do you see?
He has pace and stamina but thats it.
If we can sell him for good money I’ll be a happy camper
Just think, if it wasn’t for mourinho, Chelsea would have an attack consisting of…. Debruyne, Lukaku, salah and hazard…
Instead they have giroud leading the line….
What a cock up.
raptora,
“Willian out, Firmino in. What is Tite’s obsession with Gabriel? Guy has done zilch in this WC.”
I guess he must be his agent.
Willian has been one of the few bright lights of Brazil this WC.
Jesus has been a lamp post.
Goonah
If you improved his end product and aspects of his game a bit he could be a real attacking threat, sort of like Walker in terms of being a threat going forward but always a bit dodgy in defence.
But if it was Bellerin out and Sidibe and N’Zonzi in I would take that.
Horror show doesn’t end for Fernandinho.
Marko
I’ve never rated xhaka as highly as some..
He’s OK but has too many flaws to be top level.
CA I don’t see Barcelona being interested anymore think Atletico are more likely tbh with Juanfran too old and a back up now and Vrsaljko being linked with a move away. Certainly seems to be feck all trust in him though signed Lichtsteiner and were linked with Klostermann and now Sidibe.
What a cunt that Neymar is
He should be banned for a long time
Booooo Neymar
Pierre we’re becoming friends do you feel it
How dim can u get??
He must know every fcking on on the planet will see he dived
Brazil too wasteful. Doesn’t look like they have lady luck on their side tonight.
Neymar trying to steal a penalty there. The ref should have given a card there.
Marko
For me nzonzi and torreira holding the midfield would be perfect with mkhitarayan as the CAM.
Boooooo Jesus
Oh dear Neymar, that has to be a yellow for the little cheating cunt. Brazil getting back in the game though
showboating and diving -that’s all Neymar has done in this world cup. Beginning to really dislike him.
That one thou is a clear penalty…wtf??
This should be a pen. But ball is outside of the pitch. Lol?!
You don’t need fucking VAR for that one
Neymar is a disgrace to even attempt that on such a stage. Scum….
That was a pen
Dunno. Ball is already out when the contact happens. And Jesus put it there. No real chance for him to keep going with the ball.
“Just think, if it wasn’t for mourinho, Chelsea would have an attack consisting of…. Debruyne, Lukaku, salah and hazard… ”
You mean the same Mourhino who won the league with Chelsea in 2015?
The same time you were sucking Wenger’s mediocre doodle
No pen.
Jesus initiated contact just like Neymar was trying to do 5 mins earlier.
Brazil desperate now will try anything.
For me nzonzi and torreira holding the midfield would be perfect with mkhitarayan as the CAM.
Absolutely agree
Neymar’s repetitive diving has turned him into a villain.
Kompany was very lucky there
Contact on an opposing player is not an automatic penalty.
If the attacker initiates the contact himself which Jesus did then no pen.
It’s not the defender meeting with the attacker. It’s the attacker purposely meeting with the defender.
No pen.
If we are getting Nzonzi…then Ramsey is off.
Unless we are planning to set up with 12 players at the same time.
Paulinho has been absolutely useless in this game. They need to get him off
Fernandinho with bad pass, followed by lost duel to Chadli. Belgium should have scored if Hazard was to pass to Lukaku. Fernandinho absolutely horrid game.
Brazil are playing like it’s a Sunday league, tryin g one-man dribbling runs.
Dozy git Paulinho.
That’s twice now and Jesus, lol ffs.